More Americans in Poll Say Tax System Is Too Complex
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — The percentage of Americans who say federal taxes have gotten too complicated has increased significantly over the last three years to almost two-thirds, according to an Associated Press poll.
The Internal Revenue Service acknowledges that an array of new tax credits, deductions and other changes in the law has lengthened by several hours the time it takes to fill out an itemized tax return.
In a poll for the AP by ICR of Media, Pa., 66% said the federal tax system is too complicated, while 28% said it’s not. Three years ago, just under half in an AP poll said the system was too complicated.
More than half of those surveyed, 56%, now pay someone to do their taxes, while 40% said they do their own taxes, the poll indicated. Tax experts say the increasing number of people who invest in the stock market has influenced the number who need professional tax help.
A third in the poll said they would be willing to give up some deductions to simplify the tax code. But people expecting refunds are less likely to want to do that.
The IRS developed 11 new forms and revised 177 others just for last year as President Clinton and Congress pushed new tax credits for specific groups, changes in deductions and capital gains laws.
The poll of 1,012 people was taken March 26-30 and has an error margin of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
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